The two video boards at University of Phoenix Stadium weren't replaced this spring because of anything the Cardinals offense did in 2013.

The team finished tied for 16th in scoring, exactly in the middle of the NFL, so it seems selecting someone familiar with crossing goal lines would be a priority in the draft, which begins Thursday. That's not the case, however.

The Cardinals' offense improved over the second half of the season, moving from 24th in scoring to 16th and averaging about 7½ more points a game. And quarterback Carson Palmer, receivers Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Floyd, and running back Andre Ellington all return.

As recently as last week, General Manager Steve Keim and coach Bruce Arians discussed how Palmer's "comfort level with our offense is going to show this year and pay huge dividends," Keim said.

But part of a general manager's job, and to a lesser extent a coach's, is to look beyond the upcoming season. Even if you accept the idea that the Cardinals have an adequate number of offensive threats for 2014, that case can't be made for 2015.

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"You have to almost look at it with a three-year view and understand that when we are talking about certain positions, they may not be the biggest need right now, but in 2015, that may be our biggest need," he said. "So if you can continue to have rollover and develop players, young players that can replace those guys when either their contracts are up or players move on, I think that's the way that ultimately you'd love for it to go."

In Floyd, the Cardinals have a potential replacement for Fitzgerald as the primary target. Ted Ginn Jr. was signed in free agency, but the Cardinals could use an infusion of talent via the draft. Most draft analysts believe there is considerable talent at wide receiver this year.

"There are so many different, unique body types in this draft," Arians said, referring to receivers. "You can find small, quick ones. You can find big, tall, fast ones for the first time in a few years. Again, you would never pass up someone who could crack your roster and add depth for the future."

The Cardinals have the 20th overall pick, and last week Keim told Channel 12 that the team had a quarterback ranked in its top 20. Of course, he declined to reveal the name.

In January, Arians was cool to the idea of taking a quarterback in the first round, telling azcentral sports: "For us right now it's about winning a championship. I don't think we can afford to have a guy come in like that. I'm not a believer in a guy learning anything sitting on the bench. You have to play." In the months since, Arians has either come around to the possibility of taking a quarterback, or he is being coy to avoid tipping the Cardinals' hand.

Asked last week if a first-round pick should make an impact his first year, Arians replied: "I would think you would want that. The only position that you would ever consider not doing that would be a quarterback that you feel needs to sit for a year, or because of the situation you're in, he's going to be the face of the franchise for 12 years following that year."

NFL draft player comparisons:

1. Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina – Mario Williams. Before the 2006 NFL draft, Williams faced many of the questions now being asked of Clowney. Williams' production during his final college season dropped off and he didn't seem to have as big of an impact on the game. Yet, his physical skills were never in question, which led him to become the No. 1 overall pick. USA TODAY Sports

2. Greg Robinson, OT, Auburn – Trent Williams. Like Williams at Oklahoma, Robinson was bulldozing run blocker for a dynamic running back at Auburn. Whichever team drafts Robinson will hope he can turn into the pass blocker Williams has become in the NFL. USA TODAY Sports

3. Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M – Joe Thomas. An offensive lineman's technique is as important as his physical ability. Thomas isn't the most athletic lineman, but he's by far the most consistent with his technique. Matthews is the most technically sound prospect in this year's draft class. USA TODAY Sports

4. Anthony Barr, LB UCLA – Aldon Smith.
Barr will be drafted on potential, and, like Smith coming out of Missouri, the UCLA Bruin has the athletic ability and physical profile (without the character questions that have dogged Smith in the NFL) to be a dominant edge rusher in a 3-4 defense. USA TODAY Sports

5. Khalil Mack, LB, Buffalo – Clay Matthews. The strengths of Mack's game begin with his versatility and extend to a ferocious attitude on the field. Like Matthews, Mack can be moved all over a defense to take advantage of his natural abilities. Their combine numbers were eerily similar, too. USA TODAY Sports

6. Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson – Steve Smith. Watkins is a unique talent. There are not many receivers at 6-1 with return skills. Smith is four inches shorter than Watkins, but both can hurt a defense all over the field in a variety of ways and are excellent after the catch. USA TODAY Sports

7. Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M – Vincent Jackson. Very few wide receivers have the size and ability to stretch a defense like Evans and Jackson can. The two are nearly identical in size (6-5, 230). They are also very physical wide receivers that use their bodies well to shield defenders, and to leap for catches. USA TODAY Sports

8. Justin Gilbert, CB, Oklahoma State – Patrick Peterson.
Gilbert has the size and speed to stick with opposing receivers in man coverage. Like Peterson, Gilbert’s body control allows him to make plays on the ball and create turnovers. USA TODAY Sports

9. Eric Ebron, TE, North Carolina – Jermichael Finley. In the ever-evolving NFL, tight ends are often oversized wide receivers that create mismatches against the linebackers and safeties. Ebron, like Finley, is a fluid route runner that can be lined up at multiple spots in an offense. Like Finley, he is not a strong blocker. USA TODAY Sports

10. Zack Martin, OT, Notre Dame – Logan Mankins. Martin will be drafted as a tackle, but his best fit in the NFL is at guard. Like Mankins, Martin will be a monster as a pulling guard leading runners through the hole in a power run system. USA TODAY Sports

11. Aaron Donald, DT, Pitt – Geno Atkins.
Very few defensive tackles can match the Donald’s production at the college level. At 6-0 and 285 pounds, Donald registered an astonishing 28.5 tackles for loss and 11 sacks. Like Donald, Atkins isn't the biggest defensive tackle, but he wins with quickness, strength and leverage. USA TODAY Sports

12. Darqueze Dennard, CB, Michigan State – Brandon Flowers. Dennard is a good cover corner who shouldn’t need much help over the top from a safety. Like Flowers with the Chiefs, Dennard will thrive in a system that allows him to play press man coverage. USA TODAY Sports

13. Taylor Lewan, OT, Michigan – Nate Solder. Lewan is highly athletic and impressed many with his workout at the combine. Lewan may not be a former tight end like Solder, but both are gangly linemen at nearly 6-8 with the type of length needed in a left tackle. Solder needed to work on his technique to become effective, just as Lewan will. USA TODAY Sports

14. Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville – Matt Ryan. Bridgewater is a smart, accurate thrower who lacks some of the ideal physical tools teams look for in a franchise QB. Like Ryan, Bridgewater gets by with smart movement in the pocket and great field vision. USA TODAY Sports

15. C.J. Mosley, LB, Alabama – Daryl Washington. Both Mosley and Washington are 3-4 inside linebackers who are highly instinctive, athletic and quite comfortable dropping into coverage. The concern with both is that they're only 230 pounds. It hasn't affected Washington's career, but teams will question how Mosley holds up at the next level. USA TODAY Sports

16. Louis Nix III, NT, Notre Dame – Dan Williams. Nix is a large man who will provide a 3-4 defense with an ideal nose tackle. Williams demands a double team, which is vital for a Cardinals defense that uses inside linebackers as blitzers up the middle. Nix should draw the same type of attention in the trenches. USA TODAY Sports

17. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, S Alabama – Eric Reid. Both Clinton-Dix and Reid are true free safeties with the ability to lock down the backend of a defense. Their final years on campus weren't as strong as their junior campaigns, but both were consistent throughout their careers playing against the run and pass. USA TODAY Sports

18. Timmy Jernigan, DT, Florida State - Jonathan Babineaux. Jernigan is an ideal fit as a three technique, attacking the gap between the guard and tackle. Like Babineaux for the Falcons, Jernigan should be a good player for a long time because of his explosion off the line, which makes him difficult to stop once he gets going. USA TODAY Sports

19. Kony Ealy, DE, Missouri – Michael Bennett. Missouri used Ealy in a similar fashion as the Seattle Seahawks do with Bennett. Both are defensive ends on run downs, but they are then moved to defensive tackle on passing downs. Both have quick first steps and very similar body types. USA TODAY Sports

20. Dee Ford, DE, Auburn – Chris Clemons
Like Clemons, Ford is a great pass rusher with the ability to play with his hand on the ground or standing up. Ford has a fairly well-developed arsenal of pass-rush moves but will have to prove he can be a three-down player at the next level. USA TODAY Sports

21. Blake Bortles, QB, UCF – Mark Sanchez.
While Sanchez, a former Top 5 pick, is generally considered a bust, the situations of these two quarterbacks are similar as they entered the league. Questions were raised about how ready they were. Neither was an advanced pocket passers in college. Both excelled when throwing on the move. And Bortles will likely be over-drafted due to his natural talents, just as Sanchez was. USA TODAY Sports

22. Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M – Doug Flutie. Like Flutie, Manziel is known for making plays out of nothing despite his small stature. Unlike Flutie, Johnny Football is entering the NFL at a time where size is not as big of an issue as it was when Flutie broke into the league. USA TODAY Sports

23. Calvin Pryor, S, Louisville – T.J. Ward.
While Pryor is better in coverage than he's generally given credit for, he excels in setting the tone against the run. He’s an intimidating force across the middle. Ward is similar. Both explode into tackles and are at their best when playing downhill with the ball in front of them. USA TODAY Sports

24. Odell Beckham, WR, LSU – Golden Tate
Beckham is an undersized receiver but makes up for his slight build with toughness. He’ll provide a team with difficult catches on third down and good return skills – much like Tate did for the Seahawks the last few seasons. USA TODAY Sports

25. Marqise Lee, WR, USC – DeAndre Hopkins. Hopkins is bigger – and had a stronger final year in college -- but is a very similar athlete to Lee. Both are very good running after the catch, but Lee must prove he can stay healthy and be productive consistently. USA TODAY Sports

The 2014 NFL Draft will be held May 8-10. To prepare, USA TODAY Sports' Brent Sobleski ranks the top prospects at each position. Here are the offensive tackles.

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Highly talented class

Five offensive tackles, including three of the first four overall selections, were chosen in the first round of the 2013 NFL draft. The 2014 offensive tackle class is superior to the previous year's. While only three or four tackles may be drafted in May's first round, the top of the class is highly talented. Auburn's Greg Robinson and Texas A&M's Jake Matthews are considered elite talents and potential Top 5 picks. Either of them, if available, would have gone No. 1 overall a year ago to the Kansas City Chiefs. Here are the top offensive tackle prospects for the 2014 NFL draft:

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1. Greg Robinson, Auburn

Robinson's personifies a prototypical left tackle. He's 6-4 and 332 pounds with 35-inch arms and runs a sub 5.0-second 40-yard dash. More importantly, Robinson is a dominant run-blocker. Robinson buried defenders to open gaping holes on a consistent basis. He also has the natural athleticism to develop into a premier pass blocker.

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2. Jake Matthews, Texas A&M

For most of the season, Matthews was considered the top-rated offensive tackle. He is the best technician and pass blocker in the class. The only reason he falls to No. 2 on this list is due to Robinson's upside. Otherwise, Matthews is everything a team looks for in an offensive tackle.

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3. Taylor Lewan, Michigan

Lewan isn't quite in the same class as Robinson or Matthews, but he fits all the requirements to be an NFL blindside protector. Lewan stands 6-7 and weighs 309 pounds. He's also a tremendous athlete with Top 5 performances in four categories at the NFL combine. Lewan does have some technique issues due to his height.

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4. Cyrus Kouandjio, Alabama

Kouandjio entered this season as a Top 10 prospect. A poor junior campaign forced him out of that conversation. Kouandjio is still a highly talented prospect, but bigger concerns arose at the combine. Medical reports regarding Kouandjio's knee will have a major impact on where he's eventually drafted.

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5. Antonio Richardson, Tennessee

"Tiny" is another prospect once considered first-round material, but struggled last season. Richardson has the size (6-6, 335) and length to be a left tackle, but he had troubles with speed rushers. As a result, teams may see him more as a right tackle.

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6. Morgan Moses, Virginia

Moses won at the collegiate level due to his size (6-6, 315) and 35 3/8-inch arms. It's tough to get around a lineman with that type of length. Unfortunately, Moses isn't very flexible in the lower body. He doesn't move particularly well and bends at the waist far too often.

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7. Brandon Thomas, Clemson

At 6-3 and 317 pounds, Thomas is built like an NFL guard. But he'll get a shot to play left tackle first due to nimble feet and long arms (34 3/4).

Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

8. Jack Mewhort, Ohio State

Mewhort is versatile and technically sound. A team will likely draft him and see if can handle the blindside. If not, he can easily be a starter at right tackle or guard.

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9. James Hurst, North Carolina

A stalwart at left tackle, Hurst doesn't have the athleticism to remain on the blindside. He is an ideal right tackle. Hurst plays with good pad level and drives defenders off the ball.

The 2014 NFL Draft will be held May 8-10. To prepare, USA TODAY Sports' Brent Sobleski ranks the top prospects at each position. Here are the defensive ends.

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Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Highly-talented class

The defensive end class is headlined by South Carolina's Jadeveon Clowney. Clowney maintained his status as the No. 1 prospect in draft, despite what was generally perceived as a poor junior campaign. But Clowney isn't the only highly-talented defensive end available in May's NFL draft. Missouri's Kony Ealy is projected as a first round prospect, and Notre Dame's Stephon Tuitt could also slide into the opening frame. NOTE: The pass rushers are split. This installment features those prospects better suited to be 4-3 or 3-4 defensive ends. Here are the top defensive end prospects for the 2014 NFL draft:

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1. Jadeveon Clowney, South Carolina

Despite the concerns about his game - lack of effort and production - Clowney is still a rare talent. Clowney's quick-twitch explosiveness is special. He recorded an 1.56-second 10-yard split at the NFL combine. His is also long (6-5, 266) and extremely athletic. Teams will bank on his raw talent, which will make him a Top 5 selection.

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2. Kony Ealy, Missouri

Ealy was the best player on a very talented Missouri defensive line. He led Tigers with a combined 23.5 sacks/quarterback hits. Ealy's length, first-step quickness and versatility is what sets him apart. Ealy started as the team's right end, but he would slide inside to defensive tackle on passing downs.

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

3. Stephon Tuitt, Notre Dame

After leading Notre Dame with 12 sacks in 2012, Tuitt's play dropped off dramatically this past fall. Tuitt added weight between the two seasons and appeared sluggish. He also played too high. Tuitt's weight is now hovering around 300 pounds. He can be an ideal 5-technique for teams which utilize a 3-4 defense.

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4. Jackson Jeffcoat, Texas

Jeffcoat registered 22 tackles for loss and 13 sacks in 2013. He also added 19 quarterback pressures. Due to his play he earned the Hendricks Award as the nation's top defensive end. Jeffcoat always showed the ability to get up the field and get after the quarterback.

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5. Scott Crichton, Oregon State

Crichton is ideally suited to become a left defensive end. Crichton is very strong at the point of attack and relentless. He finished his career with 51 tackles for loss. What he lacks is an explosive first step. A team isn't going to draft Crichton to become its primary pass rusher.

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6. DeMarcus Lawrence, Boise State

Lawrence is one of the most talented pass rushers in the class. But he also has a history of suspensions. Otherwise, Lawrence is fluid, flexible and athletic off the edge. Over the past two seasons, Lawrence registered 20 sacks.

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7. Chris Smith, Arkansas

Smith is an oddity. He is only 6-1 but he has some of the longest arms (34 1/8) of any defensive end in the draft. Smith is also one of the few defensive ends in the class who can dip his shoulder and bore down on the quarterback.

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8. Kareem Martin, North Carolina

Usually 6-6, 272-pound defensive ends that finish their senior season with 21.5 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks are considered first-round material. Martin isn't. Martin proved to be inconsistent and disappeared in games.

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9. Will Clarke, West Virginia

Clarke is a developmental prospect. At 6-6 and 271 pounds, he has the size and athleticism to play defensive end in 4-3 or 3-4 defense. He will need further coaching to improve technique.

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10. James Gayle, Virginia Tech

Gayle is the type of defensive end that will supply pressure on the quarterback - 61 hurries the past two seasons - but he doesn't finish - only 11 sacks.